Green Knights Fall to Pointers In Season Opener

From , September 3, 2016 | Football
by , ,

DE PERE - St. Norbert College unable to get much offense going in its season opener as the Green Knights fell to UW-Stevens Point 37-14 on a beautiful late-summer afternoon at Schneider Stadium.

The Green Knights started that game with early momentum after Ryan Grandlic intercepted the first pass of the game on the Pointers' opening drive. The ensuing possession was stopped due to a sack, and they were forced to punt. Stevens Point started on its own 9-yard line, but the Pointers marched down the field with a long reception, followed up by a combination of short passes and rushes. It led to a Christian Almonte 4-yard touchdown reception from Kyle Larson to give the Pointers a 6-0 lead.

Early in the second quarter, Stevens Point returned a punt to the 9-yard line, and quickly scored thanks to a Darin Ward 7-yard touchdown reception from Larson for a 13-0 Pointers' lead with 10:06 left in the quarter. St. Norbert, which punted on its first nine possession of the game, was forced to kick the ball away again. Stevens Point scored on its next possession capped by a 5-yard Almonte touchdown reception from Larson for a 20-0 edge with 4:48 left before halftime.

Stevens Point scored on its first possession of the second half, with a screen pass to Ward from Larson for a 16-yard touchdown, extending its lead to 27-0. Both teams then traded punts before St. Norbert fashioned its first scoring drive of the game. A 2-yard pass to Brett Olson from J.T. Crosby put the Green Knights on the board, trailing 27-7 with 6:45 left in the third quarter.

The Pointers opened the fourth-quarter scoring with a 32-yard field goal by Kyle Hendzel at the 12:26 mark. St. Norbert answered with its second touchdown of the game when Elijah Fort plunged into the end zone from one yard out with 5:47 remaining to cut the deficit to 30-14. Stevens Point closed out the scoring with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Larson to Steve Herra with 2:24 to go.

Stevens Point outgained St. Norbert 401-177 in total offense. Crosby completed 16 of 30 passes for 173 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. Bright Boachie had five receptions for 74 yards.

Larson completed 19 of 35 passes for 238 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. Jared Pankow had six receptions for 102 yards, Almonte and Ward both had two receiving touchdowns apiece. Britton Vernon led the Pointers on the ground with 54 yards on 11 carries.